Sheriff's office investigating homicide at Atlanta Car Co.

The Davidson County Sheriff's Office was investigating a homicide Friday at the Atlanta Car Co. on Old U.S. Highway 52 just outside of the Lexington city limits.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

The Davidson County Sheriff's Office was investigating a homicide Friday at the Atlanta Car Co. on Old U.S. Highway 52 just outside of the Lexington city limits. Davidson County Sheriff David Grice, who was the first officer on the scene, said he responded to a larceny in progress at the Atlanta Car Co. at 1834 Old U.S. Highway 52.Deputies were dispatched to the business at 9:01 a.m., a spokeswoman with the Davidson County 911 Center said.Grice said he couldn't comment on who made the initial call.He said he couldn't specify how the deceased person died. He also said he was not identifying the dead person or whether the person was an employee of Atlanta Car. Co.Grice said late Friday afternoon that he wanted to get positive identification of the deceased before he releases the person's identity.Grice said he wasn't commenting on whether the sheriff's office has a suspect.With wintry precipitation falling and temperatures in the 20s, sheriff's deputies were interviewing a number of witnesses at the scene Friday morning. Crime scene tape surrounded a number of vehicles in the used car sales lot, as well as the leasing office where it appeared sheriff's deputies located the body.Deputies also were at Tom's Tire, also on Old U.S. Highway 52 at the U.S. Highway 52 interchange. That's where crime scene tape surrounded a single vehicle. “One of the vehicles was located up there from this business,” Grice said.Grice said he wasn't commenting on why the vehicle was at Tom's Tire.Grice encourages anyone with information to contact the Davidson County Sheriff's Office at 242-2105. “If anybody has any information about anything unusual occurring up here (Atlanta Car Co.) early (Thursday) afternoon or (Friday) morning, please give us a call,” Grice said.Grice and his deputies had yet to clear the crime scene as of about 4:30 p.m., the sheriff said.Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank visited the crime scene along with two of his assistant district attorneys. He said making the visit will give the district attorney's office a “firsthand view for down the road.”Frank declined to comment on specifics regarding the crime scene.Gary Chisholm is the co-owner of Northside Produce, located adjacent to Atlanta Car Co. He said several customers were coming into his store and trying to find out more details concerning the sheriff's office investigation Friday. Chisholm said he and his family have owned the produce business for 35 years, and he wasn't aware of anything like a homicide in the area.“There have been times we have been broken into, but nothing like that (a homicide),” Chisholm said. “Times are different than they were 35 years ago.”

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.